1.5  Writing Reports

You’ve written many lab reports by now—this section is not about teaching you how to write from scratch. Rather, it is a brief guide to the format and expectations specific to this course, with reminders about the principles of effective technical writing. For more detailed guidance, please see (Purdue University, 8/24).

Purpose of a Lab Report

Your report is a technical document, not an essay. Its primary purpose is to:

• Inform the reader of your experiment’s purpose, methods, results, and implications
• Present findings clearly, precisely, and concisely
• Enable others to replicate or build upon your work

A strong report allows the reader to extract essential information without reading every word.

Organization and Format

Use the following standard structure unless otherwise instructed:

1. Abstract – A brief overview of the entire report (1 paragraph, 150–250 words). Include:

   1. Purpose of the experiment
   2. Summary of method
   3. Key results
   4. Main conclusions

2. Introduction – State the problem or objective, explain the background and significance, and describe what the reader should expect.

3. Methodology – Describe what you did and how, in past tense and passive voice: > “A thermocouple was inserted at the base of the fin…”

   1. Do not explain concepts here (save that for the intro or discussion)
   2. Provide enough detail for replication

4. Results – Present your raw and processed data using figures, tables, and charts. All visuals must be:

   1. Labeled and numbered (e.g., “Figure 1: Temperature Profile”)
   2. Referenced in the text (e.g., “As shown in Figure 1…”)
   3. Accompanied by clear, focused commentary that highlights key trends, relationships, or anomalies

5. Discussion – Analyze and interpret your results:

   1. Do the results confirm expectations?
   2. Are there discrepancies? If so, why?
   3. How do your findings compare with theory or prior work?

6. Conclusion – Summarize what was learned, what remains unresolved, and what the next steps might be.

7. References – Cite any external sources (papers, handbooks, websites, etc.) using the citation style specified for the course.

Visual Design

• Use white space, headings, and subheadings to structure your report.
• Incorporate graphics only when they help communicate a point, and always explain them.
• Do not assume the reader will interpret the graphic without your help.

Style and Tone

• Be concise and precise
• Use specific and concrete language (e.g., “The heat flux was 375 W/m²,” not “It got hotter.”)
• Avoid flowery transitions or overly casual phrasing
• Use technical vocabulary correctly, but avoid unnecessary jargon

Final Steps

• Proofread your report for grammar, clarity, and formatting.
• Ask a peer to read it—if they can't follow your logic, revise.
• Make sure all figures and tables are numbered and referenced in text.
• Ensure your references are complete and properly formatted.

Remember: in engineering, clarity is a virtue. A well-structured, well-written report demonstrates professionalism and respect for the reader’s time.

Lab Report Template

Download the Word template